Want to grow veggies this year? Just bag it

Haxnicks fabric bags are simple, tough and convenient.

Photograph by: Haxnicks
, haxnicks.co.uk

I have gardening in the bag. Now, don't think that means I have every gardening issue figured out, because I know that's an impossible dream. What I mean is that this year I've literally got my garden in a bag, or at least quite a few of my vegetables. It's a simple idea that makes growing tomatoes and beans a snap.

I'm using bags specifically made for growing vegetables. And while I wouldn't describe them as revolutionary, they're well constructed, made of a tough UV-resistant polymer and suitable for pretty much any type of vegetable - unless you've got your eye on an Atlantic giant pumpkin. I wouldn't put the bags in a beauty contest next to a glazed ceramic pot, but they can't be beat for simple but clever functionality.

Their main job is to provide a good environment for plant roots, which they accomplish quite nicely thanks to large brass grommets on the sides of the bags that provide excellent drainage. I have a couple of tomato bags that (to date) have produced plants equivalent to any I've grown in conventional pots. Plus, the fabric bags are a brilliant red that gives a '60s flower-power look that I can't help but like.

The bags also come with slots on the outside to accommodate wooden poles so that veggies such as peas, beans, cucumbers and tomatoes have strong support - a feature that makes growing vegetables a heck of a lot easier.

Another crop that does well in this type of container are potatoes. Yes, I know growing potatoes this way may seem strange to traditional gardeners - my dad would have had a good laugh over the spud bag - but if you are a potato-loving apartment dweller, it's a great way to enjoy your own fresh baby potatoes. Regardless of where you live, an advantage to growing potatoes in these bags is that you can harvest more than once from the same plant. That's because the potato bags have fabric windows secured with Velcro that can be opened to harvest the tubers. When you're done, simply close up the windows and wait until the next round of tubers are ready to eat.

If you need to move the plants around the deck, there are secure straps on the bags that make the job easy. And once the growing season is over, just fold up the bags and store them for next year. Try doing that with a ceramic pot.

Now, if you're thinking, "Great, why didn't you tell about these bags a month ago?" don't worry. You can get planted ones with nearly ready-to-eat vegetables at garden centres. Then, next year, if you plan on starting from scratch, the checklist is quite simple. Start with high quality seeds, transplants or tubers and some potting soil to fill the appropriate vegetable bag. Then place the bags in a sunny spot, keep the watering can handy, feed the plants and you're covered.

My bet is gardening in a bag is really going to grow in popularity because it's simple and almost everyone can find somewhere to put one. So, don't be surprised if a friend offers to bring over a salad for your next barbecue and shows up with a bag filled with a mixture of greens. In that context, picking up a bag of fresh lettuce takes on a whole new meaning.

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